hinds



"UNTED STATES PATENT WM. HINDS, OF LITTLE FALLS, NEVORK, ASSIGNOR TO JEROME HINDS, OF SAME PLACE.

`Specication of `Letters Patent No. 23,062, dated Februaryf22, 1859.

To all whom 'it may concer/n.'

Be it knownthat L'VVM. Hinns, of Little Falls, county ot' "Herkimer, and State of New York, have invented a new `and useful Straw-Cutter; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operat-ion of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specitication, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature, and novelty, of my straw cutter. that constitutes its improvements, and distinguishes it from all other stiaw cutters, consists of the employment of a series of stationary cutters, arranged with their cutting edges on a level with the center, and at right angles to, a revolving cylinder, having' upon it a series ot' knuckles that pass on either side of the cutters, and cuts the straw by carrying `and forcing it across the cutting edges thereof.

To enable those skilled in the art to make my straw cutter, I will now describe its construction and operation.

Figure l of the drawings is a perspective view of the machine with hopper or feedingbox detached. Fig. 2 is the hopper, and Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section ot the cylinder, rack or bed plate, and fastening bar, to show the form of the knuckles and cutters, &c. Y

rl`he `same letters indicate the saine parts throughout.

A, Fig. l, is the wood frame work on which the machinery is erected.

B, is the cylinder which is operated by a belt upon the pulley c, driven by horse or other power.

L', la, are a series of knuckles or carriers upon the cylinder, arranged in a right and parallel line longitudinally therewith. Between them is a narrow space or slot just sufficient in width to pass the cutters; and

they are of the right length, and project far enough beyond the periphery of the cylinder, to determine the desired length of, cut, to the straw or other material.

r, is a rack, or bed plate, resting upon the cross timber, or girt g, in the frame work, and is slotted, or grooved across, on top to form jambs and grooves in which, and between which, the cutters c, 0 are secured by l the keys, or wedges fw, in.

7), is a bar bolted immediately over the prongs of the cutters to compress them .firmly to the bed plate i', by the bolts a, Cl, that pass through the bed plate and `fasten to the under side ot' the girt g.

Between the bar l), and the cutters c, c, is a long cutter fof full ilength of the cylindermarked n, which is held firmly in Contact with the cutters c, c-,by the screws s, s, which `operatethrough the bar l). `The use of thisl cutter is very important t'or cutting straw 65 ceived that this form otl cutter, and the method of confining it, by the rack i, bar l), and the keys w, w, is absolutely indispensable :t'or holding said cutters in a firm position to operate conjointly with the long cutter n. proper adjustment to the cylinder against their becoming too short from wear, bymputting fillets of wood or other material between tlie bed plate if, and girt g.

Fig. 2, is the hopper or box through which the material to be cut is ted to the machine.

The studs p, y), of the hopperI (Fig. 2) eX- teiid far enough through the cross timbers 'into which they are :trained to make tenons 90 to serve in the mortises 0, 0, in the frame work A, to secure the hopper thereto.

J, is a board, or cover, erected in an inclined position upon the top of the hopper (Fig. 2) between which and the 'bottom 95 thereof, the material to be cut, can be slightly compressed to give the knuckles and cutters a better action upon it.

The method of using this machine is sim- -ply to pitch the material into the hopper,

and then force it against the cylinder with a rake.

The machine is not designed to be operated by the hand of man; but notwithstanding, it may be so operated, by attaching a crank to the pulley C, and when so operated (and perhaps in some other ways of using it) may need a balance wheel upon the shaft. of the cylinder.

The importantadvantages possessed by this machine are: that it will cut Itangled straw, hay, roots or vegetables, &c., with The cutters are to be kept in 80 great rapidity; and that it is strong, and durable, little liable to get out of repair, and Very sim-ple to repair and keep in Working order.

I ain not aware that any machine for this, or any similar purpose, has been niade or used that bears any very near resemblance to this. Peter S. Clinger, and Cyrus Grenier obtained a patent April 27th, 1858, for a corn and other stalk cutter Which has stationary Cutters connected in a concave; but With their' cutting edges upon the sides thereof instead of the ends. I have seen ineat Cutters With knives in the cylinder to operate between teeth or spikes in a hollow` cylinder. And I have also seen stationary cutters connect-ed With the bottoni cylinders of meat Cutters by inserting their cutting edges through slots for the purpose and fastening` them upon the outside. But in none of these is there any way to eonibine a long` cutter therewith longitudinally with the Cylinder to operate conjoint-ly with said cutters.

lVith these qualifications, therefore, what I elaini as iny invention and Wish to secure by Letters Patent is The arrangement of the critters c, c, in Combination with the eut-ter 11 Fig. l7 eonstrueted substantially as and for the purpose 

